Step 1 - Planning - Brushes and Rollers

Welcome to the second part of Part 1 - Planning. Here we'll explore different paint brushes and rollers.

Paint brushes come in a variety of sizes, end types and bristles. They all may look similar, but don't be fooled, they aren't. A higher quality brush could potentially result in a better-looking job with less effort. A better quality brush holds more paint and applies more evenly, saving you time and giving you better results.

Types of brushes

·         Natural-bristle brushes - made of animal hair, and are used to apply oil based paints, varnishes, shallac, polyurethane and other oil based finishes.  Just like human hair these ends split allowing the brush to absorb more paint and give a smooth paint release and finish.

·         Blend nylon/polyester brushes - work great with latex paints. The combination of the nylon's durability and polyester's shape retention makes for a high-quality brush, resulting in a high-quality paint finish. These brushes are easy to clean and last for several projects.

·         Polyester brushes - the best brushes for latex paint. Polyester brushes hold their shape and stiffness in any paint and applies paint smoothly and evenly.

There are several brush sizes out there. The general rule when picking a brush size is:

·         1" - 2" - window and other small trim

·         3" - glossy paints for doors and cabinets

·         4" - large, flat areas

We know what you're thinking now, "what about the brush ends?"

·         Chisel trim - it's slanted bristles help produce a good, straight line for trimming corners and edges.

·         Square trim - just as it sounds, squared bristles. Generally used for painting flat areas

·         Angled - usually a 1" or 2" brush and cut on an angle to help with paint application on window trim.

Just like paint brushes, rollers have a number of different combinations available to best suit your needs. Rollers are great when it comes to painting large, flat surfaces. They help speed up the process and create a smooth finish.

Fabric Types

·         Synthetic covers (nylon, dacron or polyester) - the go-to fabric type for most latex paints

·         Natural Covers (mohair or sheepskin) - should only be used with oil based paints. Latex paints can cause the fibers to swell and become matted.

·         Blended covers (polyester/wood blend) - works great with any paint. This fabric type combines the extra pickup of wool and the longer life of polyester.

Pile Depth refers to the thickness of the roller cover's fiber nap. It's important to pick the correct pile depth for the surface you're painting. The six basic pile depths will meet almost any painting project's needs.

·         Very smooth - metal doors and plaster

·         Smooth - drywall

·         Semi-smooth - drywall

·         Semi-rough - rough wood and acoustic tile

·         Rough - textured ceilings and stucco finishes

·         Very rough - concrete, brick and fences.

Now you've picked out your paint, brushes and rollers it's time to figure out how much paint you are going to need for this project. Don't worry, it's simple!

HEIGHT X WIDTH = SQUARE FOOT OF WALL

ADD ALL WALLS TOGETHER

**Note: subtract the square footage of any large windows or doors**

Once you know how many square feet your room is you'll be able to locate how much coverage each paint has on its label.

By this time you'll know what kind of paint to purchase and what brushes and rollers to use. If you have any questions we'd love to hear from you. Drop us a line at 778-887-8763

Up next, Step 2 - Prep. Make sure to come back and check it out!